Big cat con job

It's a hoax. That's what the DNR says of e-mails claiming a mountain lion was hit by a car in the Eagle River area. Spokesman Jeff Pritzl says he's received the message a half dozen times, and it appears the picture of the dead mountain lion was taken in a western state. He says its pretty easy to create a hoax e-mail, and this one is obvious: there's a set mule of mule deer antlers in the background, a sure sign the image was taken in a western state.

Still, Pritzl says there are cougars in Wisconsin. A couple of months ago one was spotted in Rock County, and cougar tracks were seen in Walworth County. Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois all have confirmed cougar populations, and Pritzl is sure there will be more in Wisconsin as well.